The evolutionary origins of music

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The evolutionary origins of music

Wurz, Sarah

2009-03

The evolutionary origins of music, defined as “an intentional action in which complex, learned
vocalizations (and/or instrumentally produced sound) are combined with the movement of the body
in synchrony to a beat” is investigated through an appraisal of the musilanguage theory and relevant
literature. The biological adaptations allowing the production and perception of music are
identified and their evolutionary histories investigated. The critical adaptations that made
rhythmical body movement possible evolved around 1.6 million years ago. These include habitual
bipedalism and changes in the vestibular system. There is almost no fossil evidence to inform on
the timing and nature of the complex, learned vocalization. However, that the thoracic vertebrate
canal had modern proportions by 600 000 years ago indicates that archaic humans were able to
achieve the respiratory control necessary to sing. The size of this canal is a proxy for the number of
nerve cells that control respiration via the intercostal and abdominal muscles. Musicality is essential
to the human mind. Infants are born with rudimentary musical skills with regard to melody,
temporal sequences and vocal and bodily imitation. These capabilities are central to the newborns’
innate ability to elicit care by synchronizing their vocal and bodily actions with that of the
caregivers. Musical rhythm is further used to entrain bodily and neural oscillations and this permit
the creation of trust and social bonding. It is concluded that protomusic developed between 1.6
million and 600 000 years ago. Protomusic consisted of entrained rhythmical whole body
movements initially combined with grunt-like vocalizations. The evidence investigated cannot be
used to infer the origins of modern music.
KEYWORDS: Music, Evolution, Synchronisation, Melody, Dance, Bipedality, Vestibular system,
Thoracic vertebrate canal, Infant-directed communication, Neural entrainment